Sharing some thoughts & experiences on the #SunyaniKonnect #KonnectKouch

The Konnect Kouch is a version of hot seat in Konnect Groups for its members. These Konnect Groups are WhatsApp Groups run by or in conjuncation with the GhanaThink Foundation. We have had Konnect members  to volunteer as a Kouchee to be on the Konnect Kouch, on Saturdays & Sundays starting from 2:33pm . This is basically a personality interview. We at GhanaThink moved this #KonnectKouch into some of the Konnect meetups (3 hour networking events mostly in the weekend evenings) and also to Barcamps (free networking forums on Saturdays). A couple of Saturdays ago, I was on the Konnect Kouch for Sunyani Konnect thanks to the proactiveness of Wilhemina Nunu. Exciting. Are you excited to read about what transpired?

I love Sunyani a lot. I have spoken severally about how I want Sunyani to become the capital of Ghana, if we change it from Accra. More on this in another blog post. My favorite restaurant is Greenleaf Eatery. Their food is mwah! 

Wilhelmina Nunu: The floor is open. Ask questions. We're on the Konnect Kouch. 
How many languages do you speak?
Ato Ulzen-Appiah: English, Twi, French. Some Swahili, I can read French.

Someone who is yet to introduce theirselves in Sunyani Konnect:  how do you manage to multitask with your career at KIC and your own startup

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: I work very smartly and use technology tools to get work done, so I am able to do a lot, both through GhanaThink and KIC. 

I have found ways to work quickly as well, and do things that get a lot of results. 

For instance, I take a lot of notes in my GMail, I document a lot of information, I document how to do certain things, whether I'm the one doing it or work colleagues.

lsaac Allan-Tetteh: What are your regrets in life what advice will you give to your younger self?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Love advice to a 23 year old: Date multiple people. You do not need to marry the first person you date.

Finance advice to a 23 year old: I'd definitely tell my younger self to start saving and investing and not spend as much money partying lol.

Business advice to a 23 year old: Learn under people, get mentored, find what you're good at and see how you can make money from it.

lsaac Allan-Tetteh:  How do you see SUNYANI and what prospects can you envision in this city?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: If I have the power and influence and lot of money, I'd push for Sunyani to become Ghana's capital. It has a lot of space, prospects, etc.

It's a place that has a good mix of young people who have moved there and stayed there. Look at what Madam Ranti⁩ Adjaku said on the #KonnectKouch at #bcsyi 2024. 

It has a lot of promise. It started out as a clean and green city too.

Catherine Gabla: Please,  what advice will you give to a person in relationship who wants to marry but the man’s family is playing tribal differences?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: You marry into families. If your potential partner's family is giving you major problems, rethink marrying the person. 

Or try and understand the family's issues and resolve them if you really want to marry that person.

Someone who is yet to introduce theirselves in Sunyani Konnect: Sir can you tell us your motivation behind the organizing Barcamps in various cities across the country

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: The motivation is through GhanaThink's vision. 

Our vision is to build a critical mass of patriotic, passionate, positive, proactive, progressive, and productive young Ghanaian people. 

Read more about it via https://bit.ly/GhanaThinkInfo

Nkrabea Bilandam Patrick: You have traveled around the world, what would be your advice to a young man who wants to travel by all means to seek greener pasture outside Ghana.

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: There's no place like home and home is where the heart is. 

You'd get the most respect, comfort, happiness at home. 

If you want to seek colder or greener pastures abroad, do so, but use what you gain to improve and develop home.

And move back and enjoy home.

lsaac Allan-Tetteh: what would tell someone who want to take this career path and where to begin from?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Find a mentor in that space and learn from them. Work for companies that are in that career path.

Charles Kyeree: From your experience, can financial constraints block someone's vision from coming through as it is always said that money is not the first thing you need to do business? 

After discovering your passion, which requires money to work out and you don't have, where do you go from there?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: If you're facing financial constraints, start small. Get mentored on how to start without a lot of money.

Charles Kyeree: What do you do to make your dream come through no matter what?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Focus, ambition, learning, network, excellence as a person, learning to work with others.

Charles Kyeree: By experience, how can one shorten the distance between him and his destiny?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: It depends on your destiny. So I can't give a blanket answer. Refer to my last answer.

Charles Kyeree: A lot of business men out there are saying that going to school is a waste of time and resources, is that philosophy true and why ?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Either you go to school to become a person who run a great business, or become great from going to school to be hired by the great business. Schooling is not everything though. Either way, you need to learn and become great for yourself, your business or your employer.

lsaac Allan-Tetteh: What one thing would you change about Ghana if you had all the resources at your disposal?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: I would ensure first class roads all over Ghana for easy movement, logistics, etc. It's the one thing citizens can't do themselves.

Charles Kyeree: And through out my experience, it is difficult to get a rich man money, why ? 

It is only the poor that feels for the poor.. what is the secret there? While working for someone who has money, instead him to pay you well, they will rather take part of your money and expect you not to complain, why?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: If you're worth your salt, you would leave that employer and go and find a better job. 

You think the person is really rich, but do you know all the things he has to spend on? 

You should use the opportunity to learn more about the business, how to make it richer so you also earn more, and be part of a better business.

Charles Kyeree: Sir, do you think the political mindset that Ghanaians have, is it going to help Ghana?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: What we're seeing currently, no.

Charles Kyeree: As growing young people, how do we help our own country in this state?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Become the best version of yourself and help others around become better. 

Speak up and advocate for others to become better and eschew bad morals, and things that do not make all of us better.

B Anastatus Lamuah: Would you agree with me that we should start as a country educating ourselves especially the youth on sincerity. Because I have realized that many our us aren’t always truthful to our employers and many want to be richer than the one who employed them and that is the course of the high unemployment rate in Ghana 

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Yes. We need to be more sincere, ethical, open, outspoken, etc.

Samuel Mensah: Thank you. Why have you studied civil engineering but not using  to work 

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Because I found what I was more interested in, and also great at.

I don't have any regrets not doing civil engineering professionally.

Ebenezer Sarfo: Please do you run any mentorship program. If NO, please why. If YES, how do you monitor your mentee success in their field if interest

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: I have 7 mentees through the Ahaspora Mentorship Program. I mentor a lot of people around me, including family members, GhanaThink members, etc.

I follow them on social media and every now and then I ask them What's new and we catch up.

Ebenezer Sarfo: What are the criteria one must meet in other to enjoy your mentorship?

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: I mentor many people. I don't have the time to mentor so many people officially. So I have limited myself to family and GhanaThink members.

Ebenezer Sarfo: Does it mean your door is open to anyone from the Ghana Think who would like you to mentor him or her.

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: Yes, GhanaThink members. Not Konnect members per say.

Stephen Harmony Asampana: Thank you for Volunteering to sit on the Konnect Kouch today @⁨Ato Ulzen-Appiah⁩ 

I personally learnt a lot. Considering the fact that we've been working together for some years now, I got to know a lot of new things about you that I didn't know.

And all has been really impactful. Thank you.

And to our moderator; @⁨Wilhelmina Nunu⁩, thank you you very much.

Ato Ulzen-Appiah: That's great to know. Here's to more impactful years working together

Do you have questions for me? Post them in the comments :-)